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Archives
- THE DIFFICULTY OF KNOWING WHAT IS REAL April 9, 2026
- WHY DO WE DOUBT? April 9, 2026
- IT’S A MASSIVE SHOCK April 8, 2026
- TRY NOT GETTING BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ April 8, 2026
- THE TACTIC HASN’T AGED April 7, 2026
- INTERCONNECTEDNESS – UNISON OR HARMONY? April 7, 2026
- THE CURSE OF THE MESSENGER April 6, 2026
- FIBONACCI: THE LAWS OF SURVIVAL April 5, 2026
- THE FIBONACCI EFFECT – THE GOLDEN RATIO April 5, 2026
- THE POWER OF FIBONACCI April 5, 2026
- THE FIBONACCI EFFECT April 5, 2026
- QUESTIONING TRUTH April 4, 2026
- BEYOND A SHADOW OF DOUBT April 4, 2026
- THE WONDER OF BEING A LATE DEVELOPER April 4, 2026
- WOUND MEANS SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- PREDICTABLE SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- NATURE (BUDDHA-NATURE) VERSUS NURTURE (MARA-NATURE) April 3, 2026
- BEING BUDDHIST IS BEING ORDINARY April 2, 2026
- A LUCKY ESCAPE April 1, 2026
- SUDDENLY NOT FEELING WRONG April 1, 2026
- REALISATION COMES FROM DROPPING THE MEDITATION March 31, 2026
- WE CANNOT NOT COMMUNICATE March 30, 2026
- WE’VE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED March 30, 2026
- WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE REALITY? March 29, 2026
- OUR COLLECTIVE PROBLEM March 28, 2026
- IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD March 27, 2026
- WHEN NEWS IS PROPAGANDA March 27, 2026
- IMPURE CONSCIOUSNESS AND PURE CONSCIOUSNESS March 26, 2026
- WHY DOES BUDDHISM GO ON ABOUT SUFFERING? March 25, 2026
- UN-REINFORCING THE I March 24, 2026
- “THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US” March 24, 2026
- DO YOU FEEL MONACHOPSIS? March 23, 2026
- ONE LIGHT OR MANY LIGHTS? March 23, 2026
- WHAT IS OUR COMMON GROUND? March 23, 2026
- DON’T LET DAMAGE CONTROL YOUR LIFE March 23, 2026
- BE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY March 22, 2026
- BELIEVING AND DEBUNKING March 22, 2026
- THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS March 21, 2026
- GROUPS ARE CONFORMITY March 21, 2026
- PRACTICAL PRACTICE TO PRACTISE March 21, 2026
- WHO BENEFITS FROM CHAOS? March 20, 2026
- IS THERE A HIERACHY ON EARTH? March 20, 2026
- WORLD EVENTS CHANGE OUR THINKING March 20, 2026
- THE ANSWER TO LIFE March 19, 2026
- SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM March 18, 2026
- EVIL TRANSFORMS INTO WISDOM March 18, 2026
- THE COMFORTABLE DECEPTION March 18, 2026
- IT’S AN ANCIENT TRICK March 18, 2026
- WHAT ARE MORALS? March 17, 2026
- A POSITIVE OUTLOOK March 16, 2026
Author Archives: tony
TAKING IT PERSONALLY
Taking It Personally At an academy of art, a criticism of students’ work takes place twice a day: a “crit” is when a teacher comes round and guides: “This is too big”, “That could be darker”… If one then went … Continue reading
EVERYTHING IS A SYMBOLIC TEACHER
Everything is a Symbolic Teacher In this context, ‘teacher’ means reminder. For everything to be a re-minder, we must first know what it is that we are being reminded of, and that is the nature of mind, pure clarity. For … Continue reading
WHAT TIBETAN DHARMA TEACHERS DO NOT KNOW
What Tibetan Dharma Teachers do not know (and neither do most westerners) This, of course, sounds a terrible thing to say, because Tibetan teachers know the nature of everything. However, they see westerners (the modern world) as speedy, desperate people, … Continue reading
MASS HYPNOSIS
Mass Hypnosis Suggestibility means predictability means controllability. Antidote Know the nature of your own mind. Therefore you control your own mind therefore you are not predictable therefore you neither accept nor reject suggestions.
THE EARTH IS RUN BY CALCULATORS!
The Earth is run by Calculators! We need to distinguish between Rigpa (carefree, naked awareness) and conventional mind (always wanting more). These are the two aspects of the human mind…Carefree and Calculating. The absolute nature of mind is carefree empty … Continue reading
ARE YOU CONFUSED?
Are you confused? If the answer is no, then you are confused. The unenlightened are, by definition, confused. If the answer is yes, confusion is not present, as awareness has recognised this confusion. So what is confused? Confusion arises when … Continue reading
HOW THE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ARE ACTUALLY WISDOMS
How the negative emotions are actually wisdoms! This is the basis of the Buddha’s teachings. This is the basis of the two truths. This is the meaning of Gampopa’s words: “May confusion dawn as wisdom”.* This is the meaning of … Continue reading
IS LIFE PERFECT FOR YOU?
Is Life Perfect For You? If so, then maybe…just maybe…you’ve missed the whole point! Being well adjusted to social conformity means you are living by others’ standards. Your perfect life is all in your head. It is precisely because of … Continue reading
TAKING AWARENESS FOR GRANTED
Taking Awareness for Granted… and so limiting our potential by not noticing this awareness! Be aware of awareness. Resting, silent, in that awareness, awareness becomes pure awareness. Be aware of habitual reactions arising in that pure awareness.Pure awareness dissolves habitual … Continue reading
POOR, RICH PEOPLE
Poor, Rich People ..and poor people who want to be poor, rich people We’re talking about money, the power of money, and what money can do to us. People are led to believe that they never have enough, and so … Continue reading
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Tagged Exhausting karma, Milarepa, RICH AND POOR, time and space
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EGO – THE DREAM MAKER
Ego – The Dream Maker “EGO: a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance: ‘He needed a boost to his ego’. A sense of personal identity.” Of course, there is no such thing as an ego: it’s a state of mind, … Continue reading
PURITY OF INTENTION IN DEITY PRACTICE
Purity of Intention in Deity Practice A deity is a ‘power’ representing a quality that resembles our true nature. To theists, this would be God; to atheists this would be life itself; to Buddhists this would be past masters with … Continue reading
DEMONIC PROGRAMMING
Demonic Programming If we are an ordinary person who believes that life is about personal entertainment, then our upbringing, culture and news are just part of this process. Depending on what aspect of this ‘programming’ we acquire, our persona – … Continue reading
BORN TO BE DISTRACTED AND DECEIVED…OR NOT.
Born to be Distracted and Deceived…or Not. Distracted…preoccupied, diverted, inattentive, vague, absorbed, engrossed, abstracted, distrait, distant, absent, absent-minded, faraway; bemused, confused, bewildered, perplexed, puzzled, agitated, flustered, ruffled, disconcerted, discomposed, nonplussed, befuddled, mystified; troubled, pestered, harassed, worried, tormented,miles away, in a … Continue reading
RESTING IN WHATEVER OCCURS
Resting in Whatever Occurs I received an email asking for clarification of the meaning of “Liberation is resting in whatever occurs”. I’ll have to admit, sometimes terminology goes right over my head 😉 and I have to go back and … Continue reading
THE THREE R’s
The Three R’s Remember, Recognise, Rest. Remembering is Mindfulness Shamata Recognising is Insight Vipassana Resting is the Clear Light of Bliss of Dzogchen/Mahamudra/Maha Ati
KNOW HOW THE WORLD IS RUN
Know How the World is Run We all turn a blind eye, and have lost our integrity when it comes to maintaining a comfy life at the expense of others. This video reveals the awful truth about the world in … Continue reading
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Tagged Globalisation., John Pilger, Know How the World is Run, Rulers of the World
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THE TERRIBLE TRUTH ABOUT THE TERRIBLE LIES
The terrible Truth About The Terrible Lies What is really going on in the world and why? Until we understand this we will never understand the suffering in the world and its knock on effects which effect us all. We are … Continue reading
GRATITUDE of KNOWLEDGE
Gratitude of Knowledge. ‘Getting it’ Joy is in knowing. This ‘knowing’ is not merely being told something that’s just nice to know: it’s when you really ‘get it’!!! It is actually experienced. How does this happen, and why? When we … Continue reading
ISOLATION RETREATS
Isolation Retreats Having periods of quietness with no distractions settles the mind and recharges the batteries – the mind, body and subtle body. Isolation retreats can come in many forms, depending on circumstances. Traditionally, yogis meditate in a cave or … Continue reading
THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
The Ultimate Solution …if you want the real thing. Decide to follow the masters. Meditate for many years in isolation. You will not arrive at your destination merely through understanding words. Until you make that decision, be happy and compassionate … Continue reading
DO BUDDHISTS HAVE FUN?
Do Buddhists Have Fun? There is an assumption that Buddhism is all about suffering! It’s true that we have to be aware of not feeling right and why we are not feeling right. It’s precisely because we recognise the not … Continue reading
PETUNIAS PART TWO
Petunias Part two The point of real confidence is to eliminate fear – or rather, illuminate fear. We become the “Eliminatti” (that’s for those of a conspiratorial bent 🙂 !) There are two ways of looking at objective and subjective. … Continue reading
WE ARE MORE THAN A PLEASING BOWL OF PETUNIAS
We Are More Than a Pleasing Bowl of Petunias Part one In meditation, we become still and aware, resting in emptiness (in Dzogchen, meditation is merely remembering the continuity of emptiness, and then meditation is dropped 😉 ). However – … Continue reading
THE ART OF WAR…AND PEACE
The Art of War…and Peace The art of war is the art of deception: the feint. A sport with two sides is the art of deception: the feint. It is the art of “the old one-two”: the first action is … Continue reading
DOES BEING BUDDHIST MAKE YOU A NICER PERSON?
Does Being Buddhist Make You A Nicer Person? Does being Buddhist make you a nicer person? Not necessarily. Does being Buddhist make you care about others more than yourself? Not necessarily. Does being Buddhist make you understand the two truths? … Continue reading
THE OPPOSITE OF EMPTINESS…
The Opposite of Emptiness… The opposite of emptiness is solidity: appearances are reified when the clarity of mind becomes dull, and clings. Emptiness is the clear quality of mind; our true nature. In clinging, we forget this clear quality and … Continue reading
HUMOUR IN A HEAVY WORLD
Humour in a heavy world If the world was perfect, there would be no humour. Humour is a good mood that can face anything. Recognising imperfection, we learn. A sympathetic understanding of others’ problems allows space and respect precisely because … Continue reading
MANJUSHRI FOR ENHANCED CAPACITY
Manjushri for Enhancing Capacity There are some things that are worth mentioning, but cannot be definitively proven. You will have to investigate for yourself if you have the right intention. All Tibetans who practise and study the Dharma recite Manjushri’s … Continue reading
“I’M NOT TAKING A VOW!”
“I’m not taking a vow!” “Do you want to know the ultimate truth?” “Well, yes.” “How much of it do you want…23% 47% 99.999% or 100%?” “I’m not going to commit myself to anything, but of course I want to … Continue reading
HOW’S IT WORKING FOR YOU?
How’s It Working For You? Even though we are pure awareness and unconfined compassion, we still have obstacles, so we need certain methods, understanding, techniques or ways of seeing in order to see through these impediments. How we address these … Continue reading
DEMON ACTIVITY IS A SHOCK!
Demon Activity is a Shock! We receive positive blessings from enlightened beings, and we also receive negative blessings from demons. When you receive blessings from demons, you won’t want to hear about the Dharma: the understanding about the relationship of … Continue reading
VALUING PAST MASTERS
Valuing Past Masters On our spiritual journey, we need as much help as we can get. We also shouldn’t underestimate the power of the psychological effects of inspiration and aspiration. This needn’t be elaborate: we merely open our minds up … Continue reading
MIND CONTROL – INFLICTING FEAR AND INFLICTING PLEASURE
Mind Control – Inflicting Fear and Inflicting Pleasure It’s interesting that two books from the past – George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” warn us of mind control through inflicting fear and inflicting pleasure.* Funnily enough, someone … Continue reading
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Tagged Aldous Huxley, Buddha nature, George Orwell, HOW MIND CONTROL WORKS
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UNCERTAINTY IS THE KEY TO RECOGNISING PURE AWARENESS
Uncertainty is the Key to Recognising Pure Awareness If we think we are pure awareness, we have just come out of pure awareness. If there is uncertainty about pure awareness, merely be aware of that which is aware of that … Continue reading
WE CONSENT TO PLAY IN THE DEVIL’S TEMPLE
We Consent to Play in The Devil’s Temple Buddhism’s primary aim is to recognise suffering and the cause of suffering, which is ignorance of our true nature of unconditional happiness. However, we must also recognise that there are outside forces … Continue reading
KILL THE ENEMY
Kill the Enemy Oh my goodness! What a misunderstood phrase is that! Our enemy is OUR own self image. Scripture has deliberately been misrepresented.
HOW DO WE KNOW THE TRUTH?
How Do We Know The Truth? When asked this question, we generally refer to something ‘out there’. We then have to ask the question, “How do we know what is true in our own minds about what is out there?” … Continue reading
AM I HAPPY?
“Am I Happy?” As a Dharma student, this blog is an opportunity to share a process; the process of refining experiences. Questions arise during or after meditation that others may also have – “Am I happy?” could one of these. … Continue reading
BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCES
Beautiful Experiences This may not be what we expect: we may think that a beautiful experience is more than we have right now…but maybe beauty is in less. To some, beautiful experiences may suggest supernatural meditational experiences such as out … Continue reading
THE ILLUSION OF POTENTIAL
The Illusion of Potential This is a sensitive subject, but it’s necessary to address it. We have a true potential, and an imagined potential. We also have to address the purpose of ritual: is this also an illusion? We might … Continue reading
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Tagged obscuring our potential, The Illusion of Potential, Tibetan Buddhism
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DIFFICULTY IN EXPRESSING OURSELF
Difficulty in Expressing Ourself This is a double-edged problem: the self that is the identity with the stuff-in-the-mind, and the nature of mind itself. Which ‘self’ are we talking about? Usually we express ourselves through programmed, cultural responses – the … Continue reading
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BEING SATISFIED AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH
Being Satisfied at the Moment of Death Although dissatisfaction leads us to the path of self discovery – the true self – once we have found the path, we need to recognise that it is right, decide that it is … Continue reading
HAVING DIFFICULTY IN BEING YOURSELF?
Having Difficulty in Being Yourself? Do you find it difficult being yourself…in company? We are expected to play a part; there are films that portray humans beings taken over by aliens and, to be safe, you have to act like … Continue reading
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Tagged aliens are all round us, Being yourself, Global insanity, Madness
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THE DARK SIDE OF ENLIGHTENMENT…
The Dark Side of Enlightenment… This was the heading of an article in the “The Guardian” newspaper on 26 August 2014, where it is stated that psychiatrists suggest mindfulness meditation can have troubling side effects of ‘depersonalisation’ and can, on … Continue reading
TRAUMA IN THE SUBTLE BODY
Trauma in the Subtle Body(Feeling good, feeling bad) Our feelings are stored in our subtle body:the subtle body is an energy body with channels, winds and energies. These may become blocked and energies displaced and as a result, we don’t … Continue reading
EMPATHETIC COMPASSION
Empathetic Compassion Try not to correct the person.Clarify the point,allowing recognition to take placein its own good time. There is absolutely no point in arguing.People have to see for themselves. At the art academy, teachers came round twice a day … Continue reading
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RESPECTING OUR LINEAGE
Respecting Our Lineage If we have a karmic connection with the Dharma or any spiritual tradition, meaning that we have an attraction to understanding relative truth and absolute truth (ultimate reality), then we have engaged in this process before!!! This … Continue reading
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DO YOU REALISE HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE?
Do You Realise How Special You Are? At this very moment, all over the world, humans are busy being involved in an illusion of reality. Sit in any cafe, and you will hear the same conversation at the next table … Continue reading
FINDING OUR SPIRITUAL CENTRE
Finding Our Spiritual Centre Our funny problem…. If we say we found it, it cannot be it…but we cannot deny that we have one. We have two realities – ultimate and conventional.The conventional looks for the ultimate and finds nothing.In … Continue reading
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 